Tune card and instrument using same



Nov. 27, 1956 A. ISAACSON 2,771,809

CARD AND INSTRUMENT USING SAME Filed April 30, 1954 2- Sheets-Sheet l mINVENTOR.

Ida. ll

United States Patent 2,771,809 TUNE CARD AND INSTRUMENT USING SAME AnsonIsaacson, Elgin, Ill. Application April 30, 1954, Serial No. 426,747 11Claims. (Cl. 84-477) This invention relates to an improved tune card fora musical instrument of the type wherein a plurality of note indicatorsare energized in succession to indicate to the player the notes to beplayed in sequence and to a musical instrument incorporating the card.

In my copending patent application, S. N. 401,543, filed December 31,1953, and entitled Educational Piano, there is disclosed and claimed amusical instrument, such as a piano, wherein a series of notes-coveringone octave, for exampleare sounded by playing or striking theappropriate keys. In this instrument means is provided to illuminate,after the striking of each key, the key which is next to be struck toplay the tune desired. Thus it is only necessary to strike the keys asthey are successively illurninated to play the tune corresponding to thecard. The tune card is removable to permit the user to select any one ofa variety of tunes to be played. Instruments of this type areparticularly desirable as toy or instructional pianos for children whocanwithout aidplay the tunes as the successive notes to be struck areplainly indicated without reference to music.

The present application discloses an improved tune card for aninstrument of the type shown in the abovementioned patent applicationand an instrument including the card. Briefly, the card consists of arectangular sheet of Bakelite or similar insulating material. On onesidedesignated herein as the contact sidethe card has a series ofparallel bands of conducting material. These bands are divided into twogroups. One group is the outboard conductors which are equal in numberto the number of available notes. The other group is the inboardconductors which are equal in number to the number of successive timesthe notes are to be played. On the opposite side of the sheet-designatedherein as the non-contact sidethe card has a similar series of parallelconducting bands. These are oriented transversely to the bands on thecontact side of the sheet and are equal or greater in number than thenumber of available notes. Each of the bands on the non-contact side ofthe sheet is connected to one of the outboard conducting bands on thecontact side of the sheet by means of conducting rivets or similar meansextending through the sheet. Each of the inboard conductors on thecontact side of the sheet is similarly connected to one of theconducting bands on the non-contact side of the sheet.

Each of the bands on the contact side of the sheet extends to the edgeof the sheet, or nearly to the edge, to receive a mating fixedelectrical contact provided on the instrument. These electrical contactsare located in generally linear relationship and are connected to theelectrical circuits of the insrument. As is described in further detailhereafter, the outboard contacts-.which receive the outboard conductorsof the contact side of the card-are each connected to an indicator .suchas a light to identify one instrument key when energized. Each of theinboard contactswhich receive the inboard conductor bands of the contactside of the card-is connected to mechanism which energizes thesecontacts .in sequence as the successive notes are struck. Hence, byreason of the connections established by the tune card, the indicatorsare energized in a prescribed :sequence as thesuccessive notes arestruck and the'player need only observe the indicators and strike theindicated keys to play the tune.

"ice

One of the features of the tune card of the present invention is theabsence of Wiring. The conducting bands can be readily placed on theopposite sides of the card by first evaporating aluminum or similarmetal onto the card through a suitable mask, thus forming a thin conducting layer which forms the base upon which a deposit of greaterthickness can be made by plating or similar means. The necessaryconnections between the conducting bands on opposite sides of the sheetcan be made by the use of conducting rivets of copper or similarmaterial having their heads extending over the edge of the sheet ontothe conducting bands. It is thus unnecessary to use either wiring orsoldered connections.

in accordance with a further feature of the present invention advantageis taken of the physical fact that numerous childrens tunes use notespredominately in the low end of the scale. This fact is used to providea single tune card capable of actuating the indicators to play either oftwo tunes, one tune when the card is placed with one end up one theinstrument and the other tune when the card is placed with the other endupon the instrument.

The card hus serves a double purpose and operates to indicate two tunesalthough its size and cost are not substantially greater than if onlyone tune were provided.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide animproved tune card for a musical instrument of the type wherein thenotes are successively identified for playing and an improved instrumentusing such a card.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tune cardwherein no wiring is required and in which the conductors necessary toestablish the electrical connections are integral with the card.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a tune cardfor a musical instrument of the type wherein the notes are successivelyidentified for playing and in which two tunes are provided inessentially the same card space as is required for a single tune and animproved instrument using such a card.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tune cardadapted to play two tunes which are not entirely compatable and in whichthe cost and size are only slightly greater than required for a singletune.

Further it is the object of the present invention to provide a musicalinstrument and tune card therefore of simple, reliable, and inexpensiveconstruction, and in which the necessary circuit connections areestablished without the use of wiring or soldered connections, andhaving features of construction, combination, and arrangement renderingthe instrument and tune card particularly suitable for toy orinstructional pianos for children.

ing means to identify the key next to be struck and is particularlyadapted for manufacture in mass production by the use of metalevaporating and electroplating techniques as distinguished from wiringtechniques.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare set forth with particularity in the appendedlclaims. My inventionitself however, both as to its organization and method of operation,together "with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken -inconnection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view of the contact side of a music card theicard isapplicable, thecard and the piano being shown Figure 2 is a'view of thenon-contact side of the music card shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged end view of the card of Figure 1, showing thesame in operating position on the piano;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the contact side of a tune cardconstructed in accordance with the present invention and from which twowholly compatable tunes can be played;

Figure 5 is an end view of the tune card of Figure 4; and,

Figure 6 is a view like Figure 4 but showing a music card constructed toplay either of two partially compatable or nearly compatable tunes.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawing, there is shown generally at 10the tune card and at 12 the series of electrical contacts upon which thecard rides when in use. The card consists of a rectangular sheet ofBakelite or similar material of thickness sufficient to form a rigidstructure. The Bakelite itself is shown at 10a in the broken awayportion of Figure 1. On the side shown in Figure 1the contact sidethesheet 10a has a series of spaced parallel conducting bands indicated at10b. On the opposite sidethe non-contact sidethe card 10 has a similarset of spaced parallel conducting bands which are seen at 10c in thebroken away portion of Figure 1. At its edge 10d the card 10 is beveledas shown in Figure 3 for reasons described hereafter.

The electrical contacts 12 form part of the instrument, here shown as apiano. They are mounted in a generally linear relation on a backingplate of insulating material shown at 14 and are so spaced as to matewith and receive the corresponding conducting bands 1% of the music card10 when the latter is placed in operating position. In Figure 1 the cardis shown in slightly removed position to show more clearly thestructure.

The construction of the individual contacts 12 is best shown in theenlarged side view of Figure 3. As shown, each contact consists of aresilient conducting finger which is affixed at its base portion 12a tothe backing plate 14, this being accomplished by a suitable rivet 16 orsimilar means. At its finger portion 12b each of the contacts 12 extendsoutwardly from the backing plate 14 to form a wedge-shaped space intowhich the beveled edge 10d of the music card 10 can fit as shown inFigure 3. Thus when the music card is in operative position each of thefingers or contacts 12 is in contact with one of the conducting bands10b on the contact side of the music card 10.

The piano shown somewhat diagrammatically in Figure 1 is of the typeshown in detail in my copending patent application, Serial Number401,543, filed December 31, 1953, entitled Educational Piano. The pianohas a series of eight keys 18 which overlay an actuating bar (not shown)to advance the selector switch 20 one step each time any one of the keysis struck. This may be accomplished, for example, by the use of a pawland ratchet mechanism as shown in the above-identified patentapplication. In addition, the piano includes a series of lights 22, onefor each key, and located adjacent to or under each key so that when anylight is energized it is plainly evident to the player which key isbeing identified. In the use of the piano, each time a key is struck theselector switch 20 is advanced one step to energize the light 22corresponding to the next note to be struck so that the user need onlystrike that key to play the desired note and advance the switch 20 onestep further to energize the light corresponding to the note next to bestruck.

As shown in Figure 1, the lights 22 are all mounted in a commonconducting bar 24, which is thus in electrical. contact with one end ofthe filament of each. This bar is connected by the conductor 26 to oneside of the battery 28 and thence by conductor 30 to the shaft 20a ofthe selector switch 20. As this shaft is electrically connected to theswitch arm 20b by reason of its physical attachment thereto, theconductor 30 is connected to the selected! one of the selector switchcontacts 20c. The other end of the filament of each lamp 22 is connectedto one of the conductors 32, each of these conductors being connected atits opposite end to one of the outboard contacts 12c, Figure 1. Theconductors 32 may be attached to the lamps 22 by soldering them to thecentral socket contacts of each and to the contacts 120 by soldering orsimilar means. Since there are eight keys 18, and hence eight lights 22,there are four contacts 12c at each end of the array of contacts 12.

As is also shown in Figure 1, each of the inboard or intermediatecontacts, identified at 12d, is connected by one of the conductors 34 toone of the selector switch contacts 20c. Thus, as the keys 18 areactuated in succession, the intermediate contacts 12d are connected tothe, battery 28 in a sequence determined by the connections of theconductors 34.

Each of the conductor bands 1% which seats under one of the outboardcontacts 120 is connected to one of the conducting bands on thenon-contacting side of the tune card 10. This is accomplished by thecopper rivets 36a which, as shown in Figure 3, extend through theinsulating sheet 10a and have end portions headed to overlay theconducting bands 10b and lite on the opposite sides of the sheet 10a.The headed end portions of the rivets thus are in electricallycontacting relationship with the bands 10b and 10c and the shankportions define an electrical connection between the headed ends, andhence the bands. Accordingly, the conducting rivets 36a connect each ofthe eight outboard conducting bands 10b of the contact side of the card10 to one of the eight bands 100 of the non-contact side of the card 10.Thus each of the bands 10c is connected through a rivet 36a to one ofthe contacts 12c when the card is in contacting position and thencethrough one of the conductors 32 to one of the lights 22. When one ofthe bands 10c is energized, the corresponding light 22 is accordinglylit.

Each of the inboard conducting bands 10bthose which engage the inboardcontacts 12d when the card 10 is in use-is connected to one of theconducting bands 10c by a similar conducting rivet 36b. These rivets areso placed longitudinally of the inboard conducting bands 10b that as theconducting bands 10b are energized in sequence through selector switch20, conductors 34, and the contacts 12d, the lights 22 are energized inaccord with the desired sequence of notes. The complete light energizingcircuit may be traced in each instance from battery 28 to conductor 30,shaft 20a, arm 2%, the

selected contact 240, the conductor 24 connected to the contact 20c, thecorresponding contact 12d, the conducting band 10b in contact with thatcontact 12d, and thence through the conducting rivet 36b to the selectedconducting band 10c. The latter is connectced through a conducting rivet36a to one of the outboard conducting bands 10b and thence through theoutboard contact 12c and the corresponding conductor 32 to the selectedlight 22. The circuit is completed by conductor 26 to the oppositeterminal of the battery 28.

The sequence of the rivets 36b as shown in Figure 1 is arranged to playthe tune Mary Had a Little Lamb as the notes are played in succession,starting with the selector switch 20 in the initial position shown bythe dotted lines of that figure. Thus, with the switch in the initialposition, the left hand inboard contact 12d is energized through theconductor 34, arm 20b and conductor 30. Since rivet 36b of the left handconducting band 10bwhich is in engagement with the contact 12disconnected to the band 10c corresponding to the note E, the light 22corresponding to that note is energized and that note is indicated to beplayed. When the player strikes the key E that note is sounded and theselector switch 20 is advanced in the clockwise direction of Figure 1 tothe next contact button shown. At this time the rivet 36b establishescontact with the conducting band 100 corresponding to thenote D, thuslighting the D 5 lamp 22 through the conductor 32 and the contact 12c.Striking the "D key both sounds that note and advances the selectorswitch 20 onestep further in the clockwise direction to energize the Clamp. This process is continued to energize the D, E and other lamps insuccession as each key is struck to play the tune.

The conducting bands 1% are formed on the contact side of the card 10and the conducting bands 100 are formed on the non-contact side or thecard by any suitable technique. Preferably this is accomplished by firstevaporating a suitable metal, such as aluminum, on the face of the cardthrough a suitable mask pr'ovided for the purpose. This is done in avacuum, with the face of the sheet 10a exposed to the evaporating metalthrough the mask so that the metal condensing on the sheet through thewindows of the mask defines the conducting bands. The same technique maybe used to deposit thin conducting bands on the opposite face of thesheet. With the bands thus defined, the requisite thickness of a highlyconducting metal, such as copper, is built up by electroplating orsimilar means so that at the conclusion of the process the bands 10b and100 are formed on the opposite sides of the sheet'10a in an adherentelectrically conducting material.

It will be particularly noted that the tune card 10 does not require anyelectrical wiring, and that the circuit connections between each of thelight energizing contacts 120 and each of the note selector contacts 12dare established without recourse to the usual electrical wiringtechniques.

This is a highly advantageous feature of the card has much as thetechnique above described are relatively inexpensive, reliable andeffective in mass production whereas wiring the necessary connectionswould require a larger, handmade, less reliable construction.

While I have referred to the use of rivets as the means to connect theconductors on one side of the card to the conductors on the other sideof the card, other means may be used if desired. For example, holes maybe punched or drilled through the card and filled with drops of solderwhich overlay the conductors on the card to establish the necessarycontact.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention the tunecard 10 is arranged to play two tunes, one when placed in the piano withone side up and the other when placed in the piano with the other sideup. Figures 4 and 5 show a tune card so arranged. With respect to theoutboard bands 10b and the rivets 36a, the construction of the tune cardof Figures 4 and 5 is identical with that above described with referenceto Figures 1 to 3. Also, the rivets 36b are located in like positionswith reference to the tune Mary Had a Little Lamb to be played with thecard in the position shown in Figure 4. That is, the rivets 36b form onesequence of notes to play a tune as the inboard contacts 12d, Figure 1,are energized in succession. v

The card in Figures 4 and 5 differs from that of Figures 1 to 3 in thatits top edge 10a is beveled as shown in Figure 5 so that it can beturned over and inserted in the piano with that edge down. When soinserted, each of the outboard conducting bands 10b is in contactingrelation with one of the contacts 12c, Figure 1, but the notescorresponding with and connected to the bands 10b are reversed. Thus,with the card of Figure 4 in the reversed position, the upper conductingband loo-which is connected to the upper C light when the card islocated as shown in the drawingis connected to the light 22 indicatingthe lower C note. Consequently, as indicated at the left hand side ofFigure 4, the notes are CDEFGABC reading up when the card is in the upposition shown, and the notes are CBAGFEDC as shown at the right handside of Figure 4 when the card is in thereversed position on the piano.

It will be noted that the note positions mentioned above are the resultof the fact that the outboard conductors -10bwhich engage the contacts12c are in two 6 balanced sets, four on each side of the card, so thatwhen the card is turned over each of the conductors 10b still engagesone of the contacts 12c.

A second set of rivets, 136b, is provided on the tune card showninFig'ure 4 to form a sequence to play a time when the card is in'reversed position. In the particular card shown in Figure 4, theserivets establish the connections to indicate the tune Jingle Bells" asthe inboard conducting bands 10b are energized in the order indicated bythe numbers at the top of the card.

In order to prevent interference between the two tunes of the card asshown in Figure 4, theinboard conducting bands 10b are brokenintermediate the rivets 13Gb and 36b at those points where the bandswould otherwise connect the rivets. Thus each band serves to establishcontact between the edge of the card and the closest rivet withoutestablishing any contact with the other rivet. Where, however, the twotunes each require the same connection in the card only the rivet 36b isused and the conducting band 10b extends without interruption from oneedge of the tune card to the other. This is shown at notes12 and 13,Figure 4, as marked on the bottom side of the card as seen in thatfigure.

It is possible to provide two tunes on a card as shown in Figure 4 onlybecause numerous childrens tunes have their notes primarily at the lowend of the scale and only to a limited extent use notes at the high endof the scale. Thus, in the card shown at Figure 4, the first six notesof Mary Had a Little Lamb are EDCDEE, notes which use only the threelowest positions on the card. The last six notes of Jingle Bells areGGFDCC, none of which, in the reversed position of the card (the notesin this case being those indicatedat the right hand margin of the cardin Figure 4),, interfere with the first six notes of Mary Had a LittleLamb. It will be observed that the same effect occurs for all the notesshown on the card of Figure 4, excepting only those notes wherein thedesired note of Mary Had a Little Lamb," with the card in up position,is the same as the desired note of 'Jingle Bells with the card in thedown position.

I find that the above condition exists for a large number of pairs ofchildrens tunes. For example, any of the following tunes may be put onthe same tune card with any of the others for use in an instrumenthaving a range of a single octave beginning with the note C:

Mary Had a Little Lamb (begins with E) Jingle Bells (begins with E) 7Mary Mary Quite Contrary (begins with D) Merrily We Roll Along (beginswith E) Such tunes are referred to herein as compatable for the reasonthat they may be placed on a common music card having a range of asingle octave and yet do not involve interfering electrical connections.

It should be noted that it is not necessary for coinpat-ability betweentwo tunes that they each use only the lower half of the available notes.Rather it is only necessary that in each instance the notes at eachinboard conducting band 10b the note required by one tune is not crossedin relation to the note required by the other tune. Thus the fullspectrum of notes is available and the placing of two compatable tuneson the card does not limit the range of the instrument.

I have further discovered that, while there are a great many pairs ofchildrens tunes that are compatable as defined above, there are manyother pairs of such tunes which give rise only to a limited degree ofinterference between the conductor positions required by one tune cannotbe done since the necessary conducting band be tween one edge of thecard and the G position overcard despite the conflict.

ilaps the necessary conducting band between the other edge of the cardand'the G position. In such instances .1 have found that by the additionof a single additional G conducting band c when the card is in thereversed position. Thus, in the number 12 position of the inboardconducting bands 10c as indicated on the drawing of Figure 6, theconducting band runs from the bottom edge of the card to the B position,where it is broken, and

from the top edge of the card to the G position defined by the band110a. There is accordingly no overlap and no interference between thetunes.

The tunes shown on the card of Figure 6 are Mary Had a Little Lamb inthe up position as shown in the drawing and Twinkle Twinkle Little Starin the down position.

Other pairs of tunes which are compatable when an additional conductingband is added to the non-contact sid of the card are:

Merrily We Roll Along (begins with E) Twinkle Twinkle Little Star(begins with low C) Mary Mary Quite Contrary (begins with D) Home SweetHome (begins with low C) Also, if two additional bands are added thefollowing pair may be placed on a single card:

Oh Susana (beings with F) Coming Through the Rye (beings with low C) iFor convenience I refer to tunes of the above type- Which becomecompatable when an additional conducting band 1100 is provided-as nearlycompatible. This term also includes tunes which become compatible whenany small number of additional conducting bands, such as two or three,are added since in such instances most of the advantage of placing twotunes on a single card can be achieved. I

When a card such as that of Figure 6 is placed on the instrument the topof the card protrudes beyond the backing 14, Figure l, to a greaterextent than in the case of a card such as that of Figure 5. This doesnot, however, interfere with the operation of either the instrument orthe card. Alternatively, the conducting bands 10c and 1100 on thenon-contact side of the card shown in Figure 6 may be more closelyspaced and of reduced Width so that it is unnecessary to use a card ofgreater size than that of Figure 5.

If desired, the card of the present invention may be decorated withmusical notes, drawings, and other attractive symbols over its entirearea except the portions of the conducting bands 1017 which are engagedby the contacts 12. This can be done, for example, by afiixing asuitably decorated label to the face of the card. Such label does notinterfere with the operation of the card and provides an attractiveappearance which hides the purely functional conducting bands andrivets.

It will be noted that the contacts 120, Figure l, are symmetrical aboutthe central axis of the contact bank and that the outboard bands 1012,Figure 4, are likewise symmetrical about the central axis of the card.This symmetry assures that when the card of Figure 4 is inverted andplaced in the instrument the outboard bands 10b which engage thecontacts 12c with the card in one position also engage the contacts 120with the card in the reversed position. If desired, the positions of thecontacts 12 c-and hence the conducting bands which engage thesecontacts-may be altered, provided they are symmetrically disposed abouta central axis.

While I have shown and described conducting rivets such as 36a and 36b,Figure 1, as the conducting means a 8 extending through the sheet 10a,other devices may be used for this purpose. For example, holes may bepunched in the sheet 10a where it is desired to establish a conductingpath and the circuit plated so as to form a layer of conducting materialon the inside of the hole and extending into conducting relationshipwith the conducting bands on the opposite sides of the sheet.

- While'I have shown and described specific embodiments of the presentinvention it will be understood that various modifications andalternative constructions may be made without departing from the truespirit thereof. I therefore intend by the appended claims to cover allvariations and alternative constructions falling within their truespirit and scope.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A tune card for a musical instrument of the type wherein a pluralityof note indicators are energized in succession to indicate the notes tobe played, the card being adapted to seat on a plurality of electricalcontacts disposed in generally linear relation and divided into a firstset symmetrical about a mid-point and connected to the note indicators,respectively, and a second set energized in sequence as the successivenotes are played, the card comprising: an insulating sheet having acontact side with a first set of parallel conductors extending to bothedges of the sheet and adapted to seat against the contacts of saidfirst set, respectively, and a second set of conductors parallel to theconductors of the first set and extending to both edges of the sheet toseat against the contacts of said second set, respectively, the sheetalso having a noncontact side with a plurality of parallel conductorsoriented transversely to the conductors of said first set and at leastequal in number to the number of said first set of conductors; conductormeans extending through the sheet and connecting each of said lastmentioned conductors to one of said first set of conductors, whereby inuse each of said last mentioned conductors is connected to one of saidindicators; and conductor means extending through said sheet connectingeach of said second set of conductors to at least one of said lastmentioned conductors, said last conductor means being in two sequences,one sequence being positioned to indicate a tune when the card is seatedwith one edge on the contacts and the other sequence being positioned toindicate a compatible tune when the card is seated with the other edgeon the contacts, the conductors of the second set being interruptedwhere they extend between said last conductor means.

2. A tune card for a musical instrument of the type wherein a pluralityof note indicators are energized in succession to indicate the notes tobe played, the card being adapted to seat on a plurality of electricalcontacts disposed in generally linear relation and divided into a firstset symmetrical about a mid-point and connected to the note indicators,respectively, and a second set energized in sequence as the successivenotes are played, the card comprising: an insulating sheet having acontact side and a non-contact side; a first set of parallel conductingbands on the contact side of the sheet extending to both edges of thesheet and adapted to seat against the conacts of said first set,respectively; a second set of parallel conducting bands on the contactside of the sheet parallel to the bands of the first set and adapted toseat against the contacts of the second set, respectively; conductingbands on the non-contact side of the sheet oriented transversely to thebands of the first set and at least equal in number to the bands of thefirst set; conductor means extending through the sheet and connectingeach of the last mentioned bands to one of the first set of bands,whereby in use each of said last mentioned bands is connected to one ofsaid indicators; and conductor means extending through said sheetconnecting each of said second set of bands to one of said lastmentioned bands, said last conductor means being in two sequences, onesequence being positioned to indicate a tune when the card is seatedwith one edge on the contacts and the other sequence being positioned toindicate a compatable tune when the card is seated with the other edgeof the contacts, the bands of the second set being interrupted wherethey extend between said last conductor means.

3. A tune card for a musical instrument of the type wherein a pluralityof note indicators are energized in succession to indicate the notes tobe played, the card being adapted to seat on a plurality of electricalcontacts disposed in generally linear relation and divided into a firstset symmetrical about a mid-point and connected to the note indicators,respectively, and a second set energized in sequence as the successivenotes are played, the card comprising: an insulating sheet having acontact side and a non-contact side; a first set of parallel conductingbands on the contact side of the sheet extending -to both edges of thesheet and adapted to seat against the contacts of said first set,respectively; a second set of parallel conducting bands on the contactside of the sheet parallel to the bands of the first set and adapted toseat against the contacts of the second set, respectively; conductingbands on the non-contact side of the sheet oriented transversely to thebands of the first set and at least equal in number to the bands of thefirst set; conducting rivets extending through the sheet and connectingeach of the last mentioned bands to one of the first set of bands,whereby in use each of said last mentioned bands is connected to one ofsaid indicators; and conducting rivets extending through said sheetconnecting each of said second set of bands to one of said lastmentioned bands, said last rivets being in two sequences, one sequencebeing positioned to indicate a tune when the card is seated with oneedge on the contacts and the other sequence being positioned to indicatea compatable tune when the card is seated with the other edge on thecontacts, the bands of the second set being interrupted where theyextend between said last rivets.

4. A tune card for a musical instrument of the type wherein a pluralityof note indicators are energized in succession to indicate to the playerthe notes to be played in sequence, the card being adapted to seat on aplurality of electrical contacts disposed in generally linear relation,one set of the contacts being connected to the note indicators,respectively, and another set being energized in sequence as thesuccessive notes are played, the card comprising: an insulating sheethaving a contact side with a plurality of parallel conductors adapted toseat against said contacts, respectively, and on the oppositenon-contact side having a series of parallel conductors orientedtransversely of said first mentioned conductors and at least equal innumber to said one set of contacts; conductor means extending throughthe sheet and connecting each of said last mentioned conductors to oneof the first mentioned conductors which engages a contact of said oneset, whereby each of said last mentioned conductors is connected throughsaid one set of contacts to one of said indicators; and conductor meansextending through the sheet connecting each of the others of said firstmentioned conductors to one of the last mentioned conductors, the lastconductor means being so positioned that as said other set of contactsare energized in sequence a predetermined tune is indicated.

5. A tune card for a musical instrument of the type wherein a pluralityof note indicators are energized in succession to indicate to the playerthe notes to be played in sequence, the card being adapted to seat on aplurality of electrical contacts disposed in generally linear relation,one set of the contacts being connected to the note indicators,respectively, and another set being energized in sequence as thesuccessive notes are played, the card comprising: an insulating sheethaving a contact side with ,a plurality of parallel conducting bandsadapted to seat against said contacts, respectively, and on the oppositenon-contact side having a series of parallel conducting bands orientedtransversely of said first mentioned hands and at least equal in numberto said one set of contacts; conductor means extending through the sheetand connecting each of said last mentioned bands to one of the firstmentioned bands which engages a contact of said one set, whereby each ofsaid last mentioned bands is connected through one of said one set ofcontacts to one of said indicators; and conductor means extendingthrough the sheet connecting each of the others of said first mentionedbands to one of said last mentioned bands, the last conductor meansbeing so positioned that as said other set of contacts are energized insequence a predetermined tune is indicated.

6. A tune card for a musical instrument of the type wherein a pluralityof note indicators are energized in succession to indicate to the playerthe notes to be played in sequence, the card being adapted to seat on a.plurality of electrical contacts disposed in generally linear relation,one set of the contacts being connected to the note indicators,respectively, and another set being energized in sequence as thesuccessive notes are played, the card comprising; an insulating sheethaving a contact side with a plurality of parallel conducting bandsadapted to seat against said contacts, respectively, and on the oppositenon-contact side having a series of parallel conducting band-s orientedtransversely of said first mentioned bands and at least equal in numberto said one set of contacts; conducting rivets extending through thesheet and connecting each of said last mentioned bands to one of thefirst mentioned bands which engages a contact of said one set, wherebyeach of said last mentioned bands is connected through one of said oneset of contacts to one of said indicators; and conducting rivetsextending through the sheet connecting each of the others of said firstmentioned bands to one of said last mentioned bands, the last rivetsbeing so positioned that as said other set ,of contacts are energized insequence a predetermined tune is indicated.

7. A tune card for a musical instrument of the type wherein a pluralityof note indicators are energized in succession to indicate to the playerthe notes to be played, the card being adapted to seat on a plurality ofelectrical contacts disposed in generally linear relation and dividedinto a first set of contacts disposed symmetrically about a mid-pointand connected to the note indicators, respective-1y, and a second set ofcontacts energized in sequence as the successive notes are played, thecard comprising: an insulating sheet having a contact side with a firstset of parallel conductors extending to both edges of the sheet adaptedto seat on the contacts of the first set, respectively, and a second setof conductors parallel to the conductors of the first set and extendingto both edges of the sheet adapted to seat on the contacts of the secondset, respectively, the sheet also having an opposite noncontact sidewith a plurality :of parallel conductors oriented transversely to theconductors of said first set and exceeding the number of the conductorsof the first set by at least one; conductor means extending through thesheet and connecting each of the first set of conductors to one of saidlast mentioned conductors and at least one of the first set ofconductors to two of said last mentioned conductors, whereby in use eachof said last mentioned conductors is connected through said one set ofcontacts to one of said indicators and one of the indicators isconnected to two of the last mentioned conductors; and conductor meansextending through sai sheet connecting each conductor of said second setto at least one of said last mentioned conductors, said last mentionedconducting means being in two sequences, one sequence being positionedto indicate a tune when one edge of the sheet is seated on the contactsand the other sequence being positioned to indicate a nearly compatabletune when the other edge of the sheet is seated on the contacts, saidsecond set of conductors being interrupted where they extend betweensaid'last mentioned conductor means.

8. A tune card for a musical instrument of the type wherein a pluralityof note indicators are energized in succession to indicate to the playerthe notes to be played, the card being adapted to seat on a plurality ofelectrical contacts disposed in generally linear relation and dividedinto a first set of contacts disposed symmetrically about a mid-pointand connected to the note indicators, respectively, and a second set ofcontacts energized in sequence as the successive notes are played, thecard comprising an insulating sheet having a contact side with a firstset of parallel conducting bands extending to both edges of the sheetadapted to seat on the contacts of the first set, respectively, and asecond set of conducting bands parallel to the bands of the first setand extending to both edges of the sheet adapted to seat on the contactsof the second set, respectively, the sheet also having an oppositenon-contact side with a plurality of parallel -conducting bands orientedtransversely to the bands of said first set and exceeding the number ofthe bands of the first set by at least one; conductor means extendingthrough the sheet and connecting each of the first set of bands to oneof said last mentioned bands and at least one of the first set of bandsto two of said last mentioned bands, whereby in use each of said lastmentioned bands is connected through said one set of contacts to one ofsaid indicators and one of the indicators is connected to two of thelast mentioned bands; and conductor means extending through said sheetconnecting each band of said second set to at least one of said lastmentioned bands, said last mentioned conducting means being in twosequences, one sequence being positioned to indicate a tune when oneedge of the sheet is seated on the contacts and the other sequence beingpositioned to indicate a nearly compatable tune when the other edge ofthe sheet is seated on the contacts, said second set of bands beinginterrupted where they extend between said last mentioned conductormeans.

9. A tune card for a musical instrument of the type wherein a pluralityof note indicators are energized in succession to indicate to the playerthe notes to be played, the card being adapted to seat on a plurality ofelectrical contacts disposed in generally linear relation and dividedinto a first set of contacts disposed symmetrically about a mid-pointand connected to the note indicators, respectively, and a second set ofcontacts energized in sequence as the successive notes are played, thecard comprising an insulating sheet having a contact side with a firstset of parallel conducting bands extending to both edges of the sheetadapted to seat on the contacts of the first set, respectively, and asecond set of conducting bands parallel to the bands of the first setand extending to both edges of the sheet adapted to seat on the contactsof the second set, respectively, the sheet also having an oppositenon-contact side with a plurality of parallel conducting bands orientedtransversely to the bands of said first set and exceeding the number ofthe bands of the first set by at least one; conducting rivets extendingthrough the sheet and connecting each of the first set of bands to oneof said last mentioned bands and at least one of the first set of bandsto two of said last mentioned bands, whereby in use each of said lastmentioned bands is connected through said one set of contacts to one ofsaid indicators and one of the indicators is connected to two of thelast mentioned bands; and conducting rivets extending through said sheetconnecting each band of said second set to at least one of said lastmentioned bands, said last mentioned rivets being in two sequences, onesequence being positioned to indicate a tune when one edge of the sheetis seated on the contacts and the other sequence being positioned toindicate a nearly compatable time when the other edge of the sheet isseated on the contacts, said second set of bands being interrupted wherethey extend between said last mentioned rivets.

10."In combination, a musical instrument having manual means to play aseries of notes individually; electrical indicators for each of saidnotes, respectively; a plurality of electrical contacts disposed ingenerally linear relation; means connecting a set of said contactssymmetrical about a mid-point to the note indicators respectively; meansto energize the others of said contacts in predetermined sequence; and atune card having two opposed edges, either edge being adapted to seat onsaid contacts, the tune card having a series of conductors on one sideadapted to seat on said contacts at either of said edges and on theother side having a series of conductors exceeding the number of saidnotes by at least one and oriented transversely of the first series ofconductors, the tune card further having first conductor means extendingtherethrough and connecting each of said last mentioned series ofconductors to one of the first mentioned series of conductors adapted toseat on one of said symmetrical set of contacts and one of said firstmentioned series of conductors adapted to seat on one of said contactsto two conductors of said last mentioned series and second conductormeans extending therethrough connecting each of the others of said firstmentioned series of conductors to at least one of said last mentionedseries of conductors, said second conductor means being in twosequences, one sequence being adapted to indicate the playing of apredetermined tune when one edge of said sheet is in engagement withsaid contacts and the other sequence being adapted to indicate theplaying of a predetermined compatable tune when the other edge of saidsheet is engaged against said contacts, the last mentioned series ofconductors being interrupted where they extend between said lastconductor means.

11. In combination, a musical instrument having manual means to play aseries of notes individually; elec trical indicators for each of saidnotes, respectively; a plurality of electrical contacts disposed ingenerally linear relation; means connecting a set of said contactssymmetrical about a mid-point to the note indicators respectively; meansto energize the others of said contacts in predetermined sequence; and atune card having two opposed edges, either edge being adapted to seat onsaid contacts, the tune card having a series of conductors on one sideadapted to seat on said contacts at either of said edges and on theother side having a series of conductors exceeding in number the numberof said notes and oriented transversely of the first series ofconductors, the tune card further having first conductor means extendingtherethrough and connecting each of said last mentioned series ofconductors to one of the first mentioned series of conductors adapted toseat on one of the said symmetrical set of contacts and 'one of saidfirst mentioned series of conductors adapted to seat on one of saidsymmetrical set of contacts to two conductors of said last mentionedseries and second conductor means extending therethrough connecting eachof the others of said first mentioned series of conductors to at leastone of said last mentioned series of conductors, said second conductormeans being in two sequences, one sequence being adapted to indicate theplaying of a predetermined tune when one edge of said sheet is inengagement with said contacts and the other sequence being adapted toindicate the playing of a predetermined nearly compatable tune when theother edge of said sheet is engaged against said contacts, the lastmentioned series of conductors being interrupted where they extendbetween said last conductor means.

References Cited in the file of this patent

